This week, Fulham’s Craven Cottage gets the vintage “Around the Grounds” treatment, as we have a nosey around the Cottagers home since 1896.

For those who don’t know, the ground is named after an actual cottage, built by a chap named…yep, you guessed it: Craven, back in 1780 or thereabouts which is said to have stood exactly where the centre spot is now and to have been inhabited at various times by the likes of Arthur Conan Doyle, Florence Nightingale and Queen Victoria before it was gutted by fire in 1888.

Fulham moved in shortly after and renovated the land into a football stadium, before it was overhauled properly by Scottish engineer Archibald Leitch in 1905, which is when the famous old “cottage” that still stands in the corner of the ground to this day was built – though it originally served as a pavilion.

Craven Cottage’s “Rabbit Hutch” stand on the Stevenage Road side of the ground (where the Johnny Haynes Stand is now located), as seen before the ground was redesigned by Archibald Leitch at the end of the 1904/05 season

Fulham’s new signings meet each other at Craven Cottage in 1950, including a 15-year-old Johnny Haynes (right) who subsequently had to work as an errand boy in the club offices for two years before he could sign professional papers at the age of 17

The Fulham squad circa 1953, including Jimmy Hill (middle row, second from left) and Bobby Robson (front row, third from left)

Bobby Robson lines up a shot in front on the famous Stevenage Road gable, 1953

The Galloping Major, or Ferenc Puskas to his mother, trains at Craven Cottage ahead of Hungary’s international friendly against England, 1953

Fulham’s Johnny Haynes gets in a shot with Hull City’s Tom Berry about to make the tackle, 1955

Fulham’s new manager Duggie Livingstone (far right) meets some of his players on the banks of the Thames: (left-right) Tosh Chamberlain, Jimmy Hill, Tommy Wilson and Johnny Haynes, 1956

Jimmy Hill goes through his paces at a Craven Cottage training session, 1958

The crowds spill out of the Putney End terrace as Fulham take on Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup Sixth Round at Craven Cottage, 1958

Fulham fans queue down Stevenage Road (in front of what is now called The Johnny Haynes Stand) as they wait for 12,000 tickets for the club’s FA Cup Semi Final Replay against Manchester United to go on sale, 1958

Fulham captain Johnny Haynes leads the boys out again, 1959

Jimmy Hill hooks a shot past Hull City keeper Billy Bly to give the Cottagers a narrow lead in their FA Cup Third Round tie, 1960

Members of he England squad receive instruction from manager Walter Winterbottom ahead of a ‘behind closed doors’ friendly against Fulham at Craven Cottage, 1961

I spent three great years working at Craven Cottage during my time in London, it is my favourite ground in England
can’t wait to take my boys to see a game when they re old enough
Memories include beating Juventus 4-1 & watching my first prem games getting paid to do so
i miss you CC
catch you in Sept.
Cha cha